Nils Pratley: So, BP will name its next chief executive in the new year. Well, sort of: the plan is to bring back the post of chief operating officer - someone who can sit at the feet of Lord Browne for two years before taking sole control in 2009.

Three hundred non-governmental organisations and individuals yesterday wrote to Lord Browne, the chief executive of energy group BP, to express their 'mounting concerns' over the company's failure to meet human rights commitments.

A column on page 12 of Society, October 20, was wrong to say that the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, spent Monday as "a VIP guest at a Leaders in London meeting with oil and supermarket giants, including Lord Browne, of BP, and Terry Leahy, chief exec of Tesco". In fact, Mr Livingstone was in Lausanne that day, promoting London's Olympic bid. Apologies.

Colin Hines: When Lord Browne, BP's chief executive, recently stated that oil reserves were enough to support current production for around 40 years, it would have been music to the ears of the politically complacent.